Aristeas to Philocrates
Editor: Moses Hadas
Publisher: Harper and Brothers, 1951
It is an account, with digressions, of the translation of the Hebrew Pentateuch into Greek under the sponsorship of Ptolomy II Philadelphus, written by a contemporary pagan Greek who was an official in Ptolemy's court.
The document does not state explicitly that the author was Aristeas, but such an inference is clearly intended. It touches upon such topics as Egyptian-Jewish history, details of the structure and ritual of the Temple at Jerusalem. an appreciation of craftmanship in gold and silver under Ptolomy Philadelphus, an account of the origin of the Septuagint, and other topics.
